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Host Tom Temin brings you the latest news affecting the federal community each weekday morning, featuring interviews with top government executives and contractors. Listen live from 6 to 9 a.m. or download archived interviews below.

PTO has a new plan for applications

David Kappos, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Almost no one is satisfied with the patent process in the United States -- not applicants and not even the Patent and Trademark Office itself. Decisions take too long, and the backlog is too big. That's why PTO has proposed a whole new system for handling applications, and a new fee structure to go with it. What will this mean for applicants and for the employees of PTO? Joining us with some answers is the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, David Kappos.